A great shot of Rocky Court about to blunder at the last© Photo Healy Racing
There was a thrilling finish to the Bank Of Ireland Handicap Chase, with Rocky Court just prevailing under Robbie Colgan for Stephen Mahon.
Last successful over the course and distance in May of 2017, the nine-year-old son of Court Cave was sent off at 16/1 this evening, on what was his first start since October.
He got to the front before the last, but a mistake there looked set to prove costly, as he was soon headed by Draycott Place
However he rallied gamely under pressure on the run-in, and just got back up to deny Draycott Place (10/1) and Conor Brassil by a nose, with Eight Till Late (10/1) another head back in third.
John Ryan trains the runner-up, and he was unhappy that a stewards enquiry wasn't called, with his horse slightly hampered by the winner on the run to the last.
The front-running Damut was sent off the 11/4 favourite, and he finished a disappointing sixth.
Mahon said afterwards: "Robbie (Colgan) said he was good everywhere and that he had the race in the bag going to the last.
"He said he'd winged everything and he said he went to the last and asked him to shorten, but Denis (O'Regan) said the same last year that he'd be trying to bring him back and then it'd be just bang.
"It's grand because it's been hard to get off the mark this year with the ground and everything."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Stewards interviewed R.C. Colgan, rider of Rocky Court, concerning his use of the whip from the last fence to the winning post. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that R.C. Colgan was in breach of R10(4) by failing to give his mount time to respond to the whip. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended R.C. Colgan for 3 racedays. Mr. Justice Raymond Groarke absented himself from this enquiry and Mr. Derek Pugh acted as Chairman.
C. Brassil, rider of Draycott Place trained by John Patrick Ryan, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was crossed going to the last fence and checked.
Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy
